Priceline Hotel: 4* Boston (Copley Square-Theatre District) Westin

[sheilatraveller]

We want to spend a few days in Boston before or after the weekend of 6/27. We prefer before, but can do after. We can stay anywhere that is close to sightseeing (Watefront, Cambridge, Copley Square, or Quincy Market) and a 3* is fine. I will be traveling with my husband and 6 year old daughter.

I have been trying for the last week and have tried from $60 up to $100 with no luck. I noticed that somebody got the rooms in Copley for $100 the weekend before. Are weekends usually cheaper in Boston? We obviously have plenty of time, but I want to pick the best strategy. I couldn't find any information about a convention going on at that time, but maybe it is too far out.

So, do you think I should just wait it out, or is it unrealistic to expect to be able to get a 3* in Boston during a week in the summer for $100 (or less)?

Thanks!

[AaronJB]

Could be simply supply and demand. If there's something going on on those dates in the city - and there looks to be on 6/25-27, that could be the cause of the high rates I'm seeing. The couple of days after the weekend look a little better, but not by all that much. But, the weekend itself looks quite cheap. I see a 4* on HOTWIRE in Copley Square/Back Bay area for $113, for example, on the weekend.

[thereuare]

Please follow-up your previous Priceline Chicago thread with whatever you ended up doing for that stay... then bump this thread and we'll have a look at the above.

Pleas euse these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[sheilatraveller]

Sorry about that. I updated the thread (we did not end up getting a room). And I will make sure that I place my PRICELINE bid through the link here (I forgot about it when I was price-checking last week).

Thanks for your help!

[thereuare]

What is the best rate you're able to find for these dates thru conventional means? (use our BetterChecker to assist in your seardh)

I gave a quick look and couldn't find anything under $300/nite, which would imply that your $100 bids are much too low.

[sheilatraveller]

The best rates that I could find on BetterChecker (Hotwire - I'm not sure if that qualifies as conventional though) is $189 for a 3* in Quincy Market

After reading more reviews I think that we would be OK with a 2.5*. HOTWIRE shows a 2.5 in South Boston/Waterfront for $125. I am not sure exactly what they mean by South Boston and I would need to check that it is close to public transportation.

Thanks for your hep!

[thereuare]

Yeah, HOTWIRE doesn't count as a 'conventional' booking as they too are an opaque supplier.

However, with HOTWIRE at $189/nite, and the hotel direct rates i found showing at $300+, your maximum bid doesn't seem like it's going to be enough for a 3 star.

Once you decide if the South Boston area will satisfy your needs let us know the amenities associated with the property being offered and we'll try to come up with some possible hotels it may be.

[Rhine-and-Roses]

I have one of those $100 bids from the previous weekend- 6/20-22. I wanted one more night, and I, too could not get anything. The colleague traveling with us got the Sheraton at $157 + $20 per night- the same Copley area. I am holding out for cheaper, but do have a back-up, refundable room (4* Financial district Hilton $206) for that night. I've stayed at that Hilton and was happy with it. Note airfares do not appear higher for that week, however, I do not know if conventions and events affect air fares.

[sheilatraveller]

I think that South Boston will be too far away from most of the tourist things that we need to do. I dropped my request down to a 2.5 * and tried up to $140 for Copley, Quincy Market, and Cambridge with no luck.

[sheilatraveller]

How did you book the Hilton for $206? That sounds like a good backup. They show $369 for those dates on their site.

[sheilatraveller]

We are looking for a 2.5 - 3 * hotel for Jun 25-27 and have had no luck on PriceLine (bid up to $160). Location is the most important thing - we need it to be within easy walking/public transport of tourist sites.

There is a 2.5 * Back Bay/Copley square with Pool & High Speed internet access for $159 per night. Does anybody know where this hotel is?

There is also a 3 * in Quincy Market/Financial district for $189 with a fitness center, internet access & restaurants.

There is also a 4.5 * in Quincy Market/Financial district for $219. The amenities include: Fitness Center, Pool, Business Center, Internet access, Laundry, Restaurants, and Spa Services.

Thanks for your help!

[sheilatraveller]

I modified my search to specify 2 adults and one child and got slightly different results.

Still have the 4.5 *, which I believe is the Intercontinental. If we are going to have to pay close to $200 anyway, we may want to splurge on this (if the location is convenient - I can't quite tell).

There is a 3.5 * Back Bay Copley for $199 with Fitness center, pool, restaurant, business center, and internet access. 4.1 miles to Logan International Airport.

There is a 2.5 * Waterfront/South Boston with complimentary breakfast, laundry, fitness, and internet access. 3 miles from Logan International Airport (which makes me think that it is too far from what we need). If the location is decent, this would be ideal for us, but it doesn't sound likely.

[thereuare]

Please keep all posts for the same stay in the same thread.

We've provided our best guess under the list for each property.

2.5 * Back Bay/Copley square with Pool & High Speed internet access for $159 per night.

???

3 * in Quincy Market/Financial district for $189 with a fitness center, internet access & restaurants.

Club Quarters or Holiday Inn Beacon Hill (Club Quarters the better guess of the two)

4.5 * in Quincy Market/Financial district for $219. The amenities include: Fitness Center, Pool, Business Center, Internet access, Laundry, Restaurants, and Spa Services.

Inter-Continental

3.5 * Back Bay Copley for $199 with Fitness center, pool, restaurant, business center, and internet access.

Sheraton

2.5 * Waterfront/South Boston with complimentary breakfast, laundry, fitness, and internet access.

???

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

[Rhine-and-Roses]

3.5 * Back Bay Copley for $199 with Fitness center, pool, restaurant, business center, and internet access.

Sheraton

My colleague booked this one via PRICELINE for $159 per night for one of the nights you'll be there.

[Liset]

The Intercontinental is one block from the South Station red line T-stop (subway) and about four blocks from the blue line aquarium stop - walk one more block and you're at Quincy Market itself. I consider the Intercontinental a great home base for doing touristy things and it's a pleasant walk from many sights. But that's just the opinion of someone who travels with 'babies' who are college students!

I don't have first-hand experience with Club Quarters or the Holiday Inn. Knowing the general area, I'd guess you are relatively close to transportation and sights, but I wouldn't predict whether it you'd be closer than at the Intercontinental.

The Sheraton's a nice choice if you prefer the Copley area. It's about 2 blocks from the T.

I agree with you that South Boston is a bit far for sightseeing and might be risky in terms of public transportation.

I like to use HOTWIRE when choosing a specific hotel/location is important. Usually (but not always) I find that I can get the same hotel on PRICELINE for a bit less. My guess is that if you raise your PRICELINE bid and stick with four stars in Quincy Market or Copley you might find yourself at the Sheraton, Intercontinental or a comparable hotel for a bit less. The four stars in Quincy and Copley are all nice and well located. Some of the lower star ratings might be a little riskier. Personally, I stick with the four stars when bidding in Boston. Also, I generally find that mid-week rates (especially Wednesdays) in Boston tend to be higher, so some of the great weekend deals you've seen posted might not be attainable for your dates unless you're willing to wait to see if a last minute deal pops up.

Hope I've helped. Enjoy your trip.

[sheilatraveller]

After reading all of the helpful posts here I tried a few things. First, I bid as high as $210 for a 4 *, hoping to get the Intercontinental on PRICELINE but had no luck. Since I read that somebody got the Westin Copley Place for $159 on one of the nights, I figured that my Wednesday night was the one that was causing the problem. I bid $159 for a 3* in Copley for Wednesday night only and got it. I got the usual "extend your stay" and tried for the Wednesday night, but of course had no luck.

I am not sure, but we will probably just book the Intercontinental on HOTWIRE for the Wednesday night. It is sort of a pain to have to move hotels, but hopefully it will not be too difficult.

Should I post a seperate thread that has the details of the hotel that I got for Thursday night, or just leave it in this thread?

[thereuare]

Congratulations on your partial win.

Am i correct that you bid 3 stars but were upgraded to a 4* with your win of the Westin?

No need to start a new topic for your win, we've edited the topic title of this thread to reflect your purchase, but please do start a NEW TOPIC for the balance of your stay when you make that purchase or need additional help with that leg of your stay.

Please use these PRICELINE and HOTWIRE links to begin your travel purchases.

Enjoy your stay.

[sheilatraveller]

I forgot to mention that I used the link for PRICELINE from this site.

Yes, I was upgraded to a 4 * when I bid $159 for a 3*.

[thereuare]

Thanks for the star rating follow-up and for using our PRICELINE link to begin your bidding.

Have a great stay.